The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-19

tered to the world in fuller and clearer tones,
How much is there not implied in that word
of the Master, L have many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now
We have only, l think, to agree as to what
God is in order to be obliged by the purest
necessities of thought, ultimately to agree as
to all the rest" "a very eminent theologian).
"Dr. - showed me copy, two or three years
ago, of The cloud of Witnesses edited, if
mistake not, by yourself, which he evident
ly appreciated. 1 ordered at the time COPY
for myself, but it never came to hand"
have already published in our papers, an
extraordinary testimonial to the merits of
Aion-Aionios." from Professor Blackie,
Greek Professor in Edinburgh, and high in the
Presbyterian church, in the course of which
he declares the conclusions of that book &C.
CITRATE.
mention Professor Blackie's name mas
much as he has avowed similar opinions in
print, but for obvious reasons withhold the
| names of those who have written with no
view to publication. But can say that they
are from more than score of prominent,
and some of them are from those in the very
front rank of Scottish preachers and theo-
logians, and they are but specimens of the
spirit in which our literature has been &C.
oepted and would be welcomed. Whatever
OF good may result from my labors in this
direction, could it be gagged, should be as
cribed to the W. @. A. who were the source
whence these minds, and others through
them, will be Influenced for good.
And r,,ie,bf odd @Io4 .1z-s1.I
cations, in the privacy of conversation, have
been made to me, that were revelations of
the process of development going on in the
most rigidly orthodox country on earth.
Said one eminent doctor of divinity to me:
You are only anticipating what is sure one
day to be the doctrine of the Christian
church." Said another, to one of his flock
who joined us in Glasgow: why leave the
church? We shall all be on that ground in
few years."
If our church could food Scotland with our
literature, we should accomplish great
work in sweetening the fountains of bitter
waters that find Marah in nearly every Scot
fish pulpit; for, while the above are the views
of some of the ablest and best theologians in
Scotland, they are very economical in giving
them publicity, and their people rarely hear
them, or suspect their existence; and the
masses, preachers and people, are beyond
any English-speaking population ignorant of
the real teachings of Scripture concerning
the Divine character and purpose, and hu-
man destiny. There is no place on earth
where our truths are more needed and where
we can carry them with greater certainty of
their acceptance and benefcent influence.
Ihe Scotch mind is logical one, and rea-
sons accurately from accepted premises, but
it will require great effort to correct the old
and erroneous principles that lie at the basis
of Scotch theology.
In estimating the value of the mission a
large place should be given to the literature
that has been distributed by my predecessors
and myself, the influence of which can but
extend to remote years, and minds unborn.
found some of our best books on the shelves of
Presbyterian ministers, some of whom re-
ferredt to them with great frankness as helpful
andprized, and could relate many instances
of the wayin which they are doing their work,
in smoothing the wrinkled front of Scotch
orthodoxy, and Christisnizing the prevalent
religion of country which is unique in Eu
rope in maintaining ultra Calvinism.
Besides my salary i$1,0O0), and travelling
expenses to and from Scotland ($2S0), spec
ial contributions were made to the W. @. A.
funds on my behalf $4,000, and friends in
various ways gave me personally, say $3.50
more. In addition DR.. Demarest betrayed
the expense of postage of books sent by mail;
re- o.
Spoon River Association, which was used in
extra advertising; and books, tracts, and pa
pers were given by the W. @. A. and Others.
80 that it may be said that at least the sum
of s., 800 has been invested in our only for.
eign missionary work during my official year.
give my unhesitating opinion in favor of
the Glasgow mission. recall no year of my
life, outside of my editorial work, during
which, of course, was addressing many
more minds, when was conscious of SO wide
and deep an influence. And though the reg
ular audience was not large, yet the infiu
ence of which the little church was the radi
ating centre, is incalculable. And the eff.
feet on our church at large, is beyond meas
ure. Minds that are only capable of appre-
ciating material, tangible results, who allow
nothing that cannot be tabulated in men,
bers of congregations, church edifices, cash
contributions, or self-supporting parishes,
see no encouragement in the present status.
Seven years of aid, and the parish not yet
able to go alone, bounds their horizon of
faith and effort. They make no allowance
for the unseen fermentation of the divin 9
leaven, and overlook the beneficent effect of
our missionary efforts on those who find this
channel of effort the outlet to their sympa-
thies and zeal. If there were no result but
that on those who are "twice blest'' in seek
ing to give the faith they love to others, and
who in endeavoring to help others are more
blest than if they received the precious gift
themselves;-the effect on them in cultivat
ing the disposition to go outside of them
selves, and so, in educating our church in
that missionary spirit without which no
church ever did, or ever will, or ever deserves
to prosper,-these results would repay the
cost thousand times, and should be regard
ed as better return than a score of prosper
GUS churches in our own midst. / have there
fore no hesitation in urging our people to
sustain the Scottish mission, not only for the
sake of the faithful, deserving few in Glas-
gov, and for the cause of liberal thought in
Great Britain, but far more for our own sake.
believing that the reflex action of our effort
will be far greater on ourselves than its in
fiuence abroad, however favorable and DOW
erful that may be.